Review: ‘Ground Zeroes’ Hard-Hitting, but not quite Groundbreaking.
When Konami premiered the reveal trailer for Metal Gear Solid V at E3 2013, nobody could have predicted the flood gates it would open. After the uncut trailer hit the internet, the fans tasted blood and wanted more. Consequently, Kojima chose to release the game’s prologue, Ground Zeroes, separately in order to tide fans over.
The trailer footage showcases the edgier, more taboo turn that this newest chapter in the Metal Gear series would be taking, in order to tell the story of Big Boss’ descent into a war-mongering lunatic, and how he became the series’ antagonist:
As a warning, this trailer is SUPER NSFW for some quite literal blood and guts. Also, obligatory spoilers warning.
Ground Zeroes is the introduction to the new style and tone for Metal Gear Solid V, with the main event, The Phantom Pain, currently still in development. Picking up right where Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker left off, the player controls Big Boss circa 1975 on a rescue mission to a Camp Omega, which sounds like a great place to take your kids for the weekend. Actually, it’s a POW camp in Cuba being occupied by U.S. forces, conveniently outside of American legal jurisdiction. (If this sounds just a wee bit like Guantanamo Bay, I assure you that it’s not a coincidence). Meanwhile, a new villain arrives on the scene, the aptly-named Skull Face, plotting to ambush Big Boss’ base of operations in his absence. Dun dun dunnn!
Dude, this is why we moisturize!
Given the mini-open world environment of Camp Omega, Metal Gear fans are given more strategic freedom than we’ve ever seen before in the history of the series. The stealth mechanics, the lifeline of any Metal Gear game, are brought to a whole new level with lighting design being integrated into how the player sneaks around the base, which is admittedly quite fun to explore. The case could even be made that the lighting is the real star of the show, as the game achieves sheer immersion thanks to its lighting and graphics alone. From picking locks to hiding bodies, there’s something unexpected yet thrilling around every corner of this creepy camp. If you see it, you can climb on it, shoot it, drive it or blow it up.
Controls in the game are smooth and accessible much like its predecessors, Peace Walker and Guns of the Patriots. Motion is fluid, the camera helps you explore and dissect the intricate base. Best of all, CQC is a total dream, letting you execute some powerful melee moves with virtually no button mashing.
I think Big Boss has been listening to that Threw It On the Ground song one times too many…
The A.I. of enemy guards in this game is another milestone in Metal Gear history, as they feel lifelike, unpredictable and actually believable as real human beings. Their programming has its own little quirks – like sneezing and coughing men on patrol during a thunderstorm – or their intelligence in combat – they will actually follow you up ladders and stairs, and aim before throwing grenades. It looks like the enemy grunts have gone from the butt of fan jokes, to a force to be reckoned with.
However, enemy interaction had become a point of nitpicking with fans leading up to commercial release, with concern that tagging enemies and the grace period to execute guards who spot you would tone down the game’s difficulty. In actuality, these gameplay elements do a great deal to keep the Metal Gear experience from going stale, and provide the player with information that helps them explore and devise their own strategies. They are also entirely optional for a gamer really looking to challenge themselves, although being able to ventilate enemies in slow-motion with an automatic rifle really does show off just how badass Big Boss can be.
Another source of backlash that continues to be a powder keg with die-hard fans is the replacement Snake’s iconic voice actor David Hayter with actor Kiefer Sutherland, as the game developers required a more age-appropriate performer for the role. While Kiefer can’t quite replace Hayter, he’s also not trying to be a replacement, and his genuine enthusiasm for the project is obvious and quite endearing. His rendition of Big Boss has a mix of weariness and charisma, with a hard edge that is undeniably intimidating and delves into his character arc into an increasingly unstable man.
The biggest talk with Ground Zeroes is the length, and while the complaints that the game is a “$40 demo” aren’t really founded, the price even for digital copies is cringe-worthy considering the main story takes 2-4 hours to complete. Well, not withstanding that guy who beat it in ten minutes. While the length of the game isn’t exactly good news, it doesn’t overstay its welcome and concludes in a way that leaves plenty of anticipation for The Phantom Pain. Plus, it avoids being an unnecessary cutscene orgy like previous installments, and offers the right serving size to satisfy, but stay compelling. The extra side missions provide more opportunities to poke around Camp Omega, but the game play of these missions is rather formulaic and lack the suspense of Ground Zeroes‘ main game. To make matters more irritating, it is necessary to complete them in order to unlock the highly-anticipated Deja Vu mission featuring the classic, PS1 Solid Snake. Attempts at padding out the playing time are appreciated, but it’s a drag to be told I have to do the chores before going out to have fun.
Awkwardly-timed war flashbacks coming soon as DLC!
However, once the prologue’s story reaches its conclusion, all of the stops are pulled out. We see death and destruction in a far more explicit manner than we ever have before in these games. Avoiding spoilers as much as possible, witnessing Big Boss lose his allies in the midst of bloody fire and chaos is like The Red Wedding from Game of Thrones, multiplied by twelve, and on crack. And it hurts so good.
Fans who purchased new copies of Ground Zeroes will also be treated to extra content in The Phantom Pain, as well as getting to see a bonus trailer for the latter. Though, be sure to wait til you’ve finished the main story line so you’re not spoiled!
Overall, the replay value of the game is high and it’s stunning to look at and experience the story, but unless you’re a serious devotee of Kojima Productions, you’re better off waiting for a drop in the price.
